DaytonDailyNews.com

With an improved record and a bowl game in its future, the University of Illinois football team has more self-confidence than at this point last season.

Or had, anyway.

"I was feeling good," said linebacker J Leman, "until I watched (Ohio State) on film."

The Illini (7-3) will take on the top-ranked Buckeyes on Saturday at Ohio Stadium in one of two remaining hurdles for Ohio State's run to the national championship game. The same was true last season, when OSU traveled to Illinois and got its toughest test to that point in the season in a 17-10 victory.

Now, even though third-year Illini coach Ron Zook has an 11-22 record at the school, his team has rebounded with a 7-3 showing this season and is confident heading into Columbus. But there still is the country's No. 1 team to deal with.

With Michigan looming and the upset-laden state of college football, many are keeping a close eye on Ohio State's performance.

"I know the fans love to see the seasons be unpredictable," said Kevin Mitchell, an Illinois senior safety. "At the same time that adds confidence to the other teams, that any given day any team can win."

Illinois is just 2-11 in its past 13 games against the Buckeyes. The Illini did win in Columbus in 2001 (34-22) and 1999 (46-20), two of their past three visits to Ohio Stadium. It wasn't as close in 2005, when the Buckeyes throttled Illinois 40-2.

That was win No. 4 in OSU's current 20-game Big Ten streak, a league record.

"When you look at them as a unit," said Juice Williams, the Illinois sophomore quarterback, "they look like the No. 1 team in the country."

Contact this reporter at (937) 225-7389 or knagel@DaytonDailyNews.com.

Ohio State vs. Illinois

Last five meetings:

2006 W 17-10

2005 W 40-2

2002 W 23-16

2001 L 34-22

2000 W 24-21

Saturday's game

Who: Illinois at Ohio State

When: 3:30 p.m.

TV: ABC

Radio: WING-AM (1410)